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Actually, it's really remarkable that the 335 practically gets the same gas mileage as the 328, but has 2 additional cylinders, 45 lbs more max torque, and 60 more HP.

I found that :

A-Real world, it's a decent gap in MPG. I took both cars and ran them on the same loop to compare, not 100% scientific but pretty close. I got 35.5 in the N55(8at) and 39 in the N20(6mt). I am pretty sure an N55 6mt might get a bit less than an 8at.
B-The power difference is not as large as advertised, both engines underrated, the 328 just more so. This has been shown on the dyno a handful of times.

A-Real world, it's a decent gap in MPG. I took both cars and ran them on the same loop to compare, not 100% scientific but pretty close. I got 35.5 in the N55(8at) and 39 in the N20(6mt). I am pretty sure an N55 6mt might get a bit less than an 8at.
B-The power difference is not as large as advertised, both engines underrated, the 328 just more so. This has been shown on the dyno a handful of times.

I guess different people will interpret this differently. Only 3.5 MPG difference is really remarkable when considering that you get 45 lbs more max torque and 60 more HP with the 335.

You basically get 25% more HP with the N55, and the N20 only gives you less than 10% better gas mileage.

Now, with all that said, there is nothing wrong with the N20. It's a great engine, and I'd be perfectly happy with a 328.

In Los Angeles where these cars are pretty common I like the (small) standout of the 335 as well with the dual pipes. The same way people gravitate to the M-Sport also to differentiate the car from all the others out there a bit.

A-Real world, it's a decent gap in MPG. I took both cars and ran them on the same loop to compare, not 100% scientific but pretty close. I got 35.5 in the N55(8at) and 39 in the N20(6mt). I am pretty sure an N55 6mt might get a bit less than an 8at.
B-The power difference is not as large as advertised, both engines underrated, the 328 just more so. This has been shown on the dyno a handful of times.

Not personal experience, but using EPA numbers as a guide the N20 gets better mpg with the 6MT than with the 8AT and the N55 gets better mileage with the 8AT than with the 6MT. This makes intuitive sense to me, because historically the power of a four banger is better utilized by a manual transmission.

Since the vast, vast majority of N20 328i's are going to be fitted with the 8AT and the same for the N55 335i's it makes the real world mpg performance difference considerably less significant.

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It's funny, it's the lowest Dynojet dyno I have seen for an F30 N20 and they are the only source to not declare the N20 underrated. How do you explain when the dyno's of the ATS which is rated and SAE verified to be 272 at the crank, equals but does not better than the N20 which is rated at 240. That is the very definition of underrating lol.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tturedraider

Not personal experience, but using EPA numbers as a guide the N20 gets better mpg with the 6MT than with the 8AT and the N55 gets better mileage with the 8AT than with the 6MT. This makes intuitive sense to me, because historically the power of a four banger is better utilized by a manual transmission.

Since the vast, vast majority of N20 328i's are going to be fitted with the 8AT and the same for the N55 335i's it makes the real world mpg performance difference considerably less significant.

I tested an 8AT n55 against my 6mt N20. I could have skewed the results more in the N20's favor with the N55 being a 6mt.

I do not care what most buyers buy, I am an enthusiast and have a manual. The N20 compared to the N55, clearly has a 10-15% OR greater(when transmission is factored) MPG advantage, which is in line with the power disadvantage. So nothing earth shattering.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WaxComb

Funny that it's only InsideLine (Edmunds.com) gets the 240->250 in a car provided by BMW in February in Southern California. Everywhere else is 222 hp to 233 hp.

Any of you 335 owners ever take your car in for service and get a 328 as a loaner...any of you find yourself saying "Man, I wished I had saved a few bucks and gotten the 328?"

Look, the 335i is a nice car, nothing wrong with it at all.

Thing is, if there was no 335i, all the 335i people would be drooling all over their 328i's and telling the world what a great car it is. As currently constituted on the F30, the 328i is a fantastic car. For those that need a bit more power (and I mean a tiny bit more in realworld conditions) the 335i is an inexpensive option for those who want it.

Doesn't mean that the 328i is an inferior car. Just means that the 335i is a touch more.

Thing is, if there was no 335i, all the 335i people would be drooling all over their 328i's and telling the world what a great car it is. As currently constituted on the F30, the 328i is a fantastic car. For those that need a bit more power (and I mean a tiny bit more in realworld conditions) the 335i is an inexpensive option for those who want it.

Doesn't mean that the 328i is an inferior car. Just means that the 335i is a touch more.

BJ

I suppose it really comes down to what you prioritize. If you value dollars, mileage, or perhaps lighter weight more highly than power and the smooth straight 6 (and a few other 335i specifics) then the 328i could be the better car "for you"...and vice-versa.

I don't think the 328i is an inferior car. If it's a choice between a loaded 328i and a stripper 335i, I'd go with the 328 all the away. Even though the 335i is much more powerful, I'd doubt you'd notice the difference in everyday driving. In my car, the only time I pass 4000 rpm is when I'm stop light drag racing, passing on the freeway, or driving on a canyon road. Everyday the 328 has more than enough power.

I suppose it really comes down to what you prioritize. If you value dollars, mileage, or perhaps lighter weight more highly than power and the smooth straight 6 (and a few other 335i specifics) then the 328i could be the better car "for you"...and vice-versa.

I owned an E93 328i and then an E90 328i for 6 consecutive years and I don't know what this "smooth" comment is about the 6 cylinder engine in those cars because the performance was anything but smooth.

I could care less what the power curve looks like on a computer. All I know is that when I stepped on the gas in those E9X cars it didn't move very fast, it shifted inconsistently and very abruptly, and there was nothing remarkable about it's performance. Conversely, when I step on the F30, the thing flies and the shifting is so smooth and effortless you barely even know it's taking place.

I agree completely on the E46 vs. E90 debates that now turn into the F30 vs. E90 debates. It's like a reviewer comes out with a couple of callouts and suddenly it becomes the smoking gun. Ah, the engine isn't as "smooth". Oh, the materials are "inferior". Enough with the jealous nitpicking already.